Reading is the priority in first grade. The student will be immersed in a print-rich environment to develop oral language skills, phonetic skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and an awareness of print materials as sources of information and enjoyment. The student will use listening and speaking skills to participate in classroom discussions. The student will use a variety of strategies to read new words and will read familiar selections with fluency and expression. The student will continue to develop an understanding of character, setting, main idea, and story sequence in a variety of texts. The student will increase vocabulary and comprehension strategies by reading across the curriculum, with emphasis on materials that reflect the Standards of Learning in mathematics, science, and history and social science. The student will also demonstrate comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts through classroom discussion and will begin to communicate ideas in writing.